Clearwell computer system

Susan Hall: Please can you provide a full explanation on the issues surrounding the Met computer system Clearwell, which according to court papers dated 8th August 2019, has no functionality despite costing £201,000 a year, and why did you not mention these issues in my question 2019/21106? What has been the amount spent on this system for each year since its launch?

The Mayor: Clearwell is a package used by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) in investigations requiring digital enquiries.
The Met is improving many of its existing systems including the Microsoft Office service which recently moved to Office 365. This meant that for a period of time Clearwell was incompatible with these newer systems and lost some functionality. This is not unusual when upgrading IT systems, and complete functionality was only lost for approximately 72 hours. The package is just one of a number of resources used in DPS investigations, so no investigations were halted by this.
The Met has been working with their IT providers to upgrade the package to ensure it remains compatible with all other systems as they modernise their IT estate. As Met Digital Policing said in December, the approximate cost of the Clearwell solution is £201,000 per annum with periodic upgrades also purchased as part of a larger upgrade programmes so individual costs are not always available. All MOPAC and MPS expenditure is of course published.

Shoplifting 2

Tony Devenish: Shop keepers in Chelsea find that shoplifting and theft is most prolific between 4 and 6pm, will you increase police patrols during this time?

The Mayor: The assembly member’s concerns will be shared with the Neighbourhood Inspector for Chelsea and review opportunities for using Safer Neighbourhood Officers to focus patrols in this area to show a visible presence in the area at the appropriate times.

Staff Survey Actions

Susan Hall: What actions were taken as a result of the 2017 GLA staff survey and are being considered for the 2019 GLA staff survey and how are these actions being measured?

The Mayor: Following the 2017 GLA staff survey, the GLA Senior Leadership Team (SLT) identified three priorities, Reward and Recognition, Resources and Wellbeing, and Performance, Diversity and Inclusion. Much of this work is now part of the Chief Officer’s Transformation Programme. Actions taken included considering a review of pay and grading, the rollout of both technology and policy to support smart working, a new approach to workplace conflict launched in our Resolution Policy, and the roll out of the Inclusive GLA unconscious bias learning programme.
The latest GLA staff survey took place at the end of 2019, and for the first time monitored socio-economic-background questions. We achieved a 98 per centcompletion rate and an engagement rate of 77 per cent. SLT have reviewed the results and are developing action plans with their areas. Workshops with staff are planned to review the findings in March, and we will be developing action plans to address the key issues. As in previous surveys, the key actions will be reported to GLA Oversight Committee as part of the Workforce Report.

Prostitution in Enfield & Haringey (1)

Joanne McCartney: What is being done to tackle prostitution and kerb crawling in Haringey and Enfield, Particularly in the Fore Street area?

The Mayor: Strategic oversight with Superintendent (neighbourhoods policing) and heads of both Enfield and Haringey community safety. Local and Central policing teams conducting a number of short and long term operations.
Estate walkabouts with a focus on changing the environment have been undertaken with the ‘design out crime’ advisor, the council and DWO. These walkabouts inform measures that are to be taken to improve the physical environment, such as changing the lighting and removing cut-throughs and walls. A Public Space Protection Order is in place and both civil and criminal remedies are considered to deter activity.
A number of community meetings to update the public on police / LA action and activity. The head of the Enfield Independent advisory group was an observer on the last operation two weeks ago to ensure the public are aware of the policing response.

Police Driving Instructors (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: Since the start of 2019 has the Met employed any agency workers as police driving instructors who are not registered with the DVSA as licenced instructors, which would go against the rules set out by the College of Policing?

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) assures me that it adheres to the College of Policing standards for driver trainers and all active agency workers utilised as police driving instructors are registered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
In October 2019 a review of the agency worker pool identified an individual as not registered under the DVSA. The MPS subsequently sought advice from the Department of Transport and independent legal advice before taking the decision to remove this agency worker from training duties.

Prostitution in Enfield & Haringey (2)

Joanne McCartney: Are there any joint operations against kerb crawlers planned in the future in Enfield and Haringey?

The Mayor: Operation Boxster 2020 is an ongoing operation to tackle the Sex worker activity in the Fore street area of both London Boroughs of Haringey and Enfield. There have been a number of policing activities under the Umbrella of operation Boxster. These operations involve specialist police units, neighbourhood policing, local authority community safety teams, intervention charities and third sector organisations such as the Salvation Army.
Operation Boxster 2020/has undertaken two operations in the last 18 months to target kerb crawlers and 36 people were arrested in total.
Regular ‘walkabouts’ are undertaken by council officers with the MPS dedicated ward officer (DWO).
Three further mini operations were carried out which resulted in an additional 27 arrests, 59 cautions, 71 stop and searches and 25 intelligence reports. Warning letters have been issued by the Police to the registered keepers of the vehicles loitering in the area. The Met Central Trafficking Team will be training the DWOs to ensure a more informed policing response to the issue. The Superintendent and heads of both Enfield and Haringey community safety provide oversight.
Estate walkabouts with a focus on changing the environment have been undertaken with the ‘design out crime’ advisor, the council and DWO. These walkabouts inform measures that are to be taken to improve the physical environment, such as changing the lighting and removing cut-throughs and walls. A Public Space Protection Order is in place and both civil and criminal remedies are considered to deter activity.
A number of community meetings have taken place to update the public on police and local authority joint action and activity. The next meeting is scheduled for 27th February 2020 and it is anticipated that these will take place every 8-12 weeks thereafter.

Hit and run prosecutions 2019 (2)

Siân Berry: Thank you for your response to my question 2020/0071. The data that you provided in the answer does not contain, or at least detail explicitly, any fatalities under ‘severity type’, despite there being fatalities in hit and run incidents in London in 2019.
Could you provide more complete and up-to-date data on the most recent figures for numbers of casualties relating to hit and runs in London in 2019, with a breakdown by: a) road user mode, b) severity type, c) borough, and d) whether there was a prosecution, and do so in the same format as provided in your response to question 2019/12046?

The Mayor: Please see attached the requested data for the period specified.

Authorised Firearms Officers

Unmesh Desai: Please can you advise how many authorised firearms officers (AFO) were employed by the Met in December 2019, December 2018, December 2017 and December 2016?

The Mayor: The table below shows the number of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) in Firearms Command from 2016 – 2019.
31st December 2016
2431
31st December 2017
2756
31st December 2018
2828
31st December 2019
2839

The Number of Arrests in London Through the European Arrest Warrant

Caroline Pidgeon: I am deeply concerned that under existing plans for Brexit the government seem to be entirely abandoning the European Arrest Warrant. Can you provide the number of individuals arrested in London through the European Arrest Warrant since 2017 broken down by month and type of crime?

The Mayor: I too, am concerned about the loss of not only this vital policing tool but others such as SIS II and ECRIS. Unfortunately, the MPS do not hold accurate data on the regional use of the EAW. The National Crime Agency publish this information on their website and any enquiries regarding these statistics should be directed to the Home Office.

Police bail extensions

Unmesh Desai: On how many occasions have people had an extension to police bail beyond the initial 28 day limit since the 3rd April 2017?

The Mayor: 3/4/2017 to 31/12/2017 (Arrest Date and First Bail Granted)
During this period there were 7,266 Custody Records with at least one offence Pre-charge Police Bail. Accounting for 11,271 offences.
1,492 Custody Records showed bail of over 28 days. 1,204 Custody records have bail over 28 days where a bail date had been changed via either a second (or more) Bail Notice or a Bail Variation.
1/1/2018 to 31/12/2018 (Arrest Date and First Bail Granted
During this period there were 13,097 Custody Records with at least one offence Pre-charge Police Bail. Accounting for 21,143 offences.
2,748 Custody Records showed bail of over 28 days. 2,579 Custody records have bail over 28 days where a bail date had been changed via either a second (or more) Bail Notice or a Bail Variation.

Crimes Against Children in Care

Caroline Pidgeon: Can you confirm whether the Met, as a matter of routine, gives a child in care or their social worker, any form of letter to tell them the status of an investigation, whether they are investigating, or are no longer investigating a crime reported by a child in care?

The Mayor: There is no specific arrangement for children in care as contrasted with other children.
The requirement for the Victims’ Code of Practice (VCOP) is that victims are regularly updated with the status of the investigation. This is by the preferred contact method for the victim. It can be sent as letter, email or telephone call.
Any victim and their parent/guardian or carer should be told by investigators in writing at the conclusion of the investigation.

Robbery 1

Susan Hall: For each of the years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 please provide an age breakdown of robbery victims and offenders?

The Mayor: Please see attached the requested data for the period specified.

Clearwell 2

Susan Hall: Please provide all communications to and from DCI Gary Hankey regarding the Clearwell Computer system?

The Mayor: This request is best dealt with through submitting a Freedom of Information request to the MPS.

Clearwell 3

Susan Hall: Please provide any reports/briefings on issues regarding the Met Clearwell computer system

The Mayor: This request is best dealt with through submitting a Freedom of Information request to the MPS.

Leave

Tony Devenish: For each of the following organisations, please list the types of leave available to staff:
• MPS
• TFL
• GLA
• LFB
And further to this, for each of these except standard annual leave, please provide the hours taken in 2019.

The Mayor: MPS
The MPS information below excludes maternity leave.
Types of Leave available to staff
Hours taken 1 January 2019 to
31 December 2019
Police Officer
Staff
PCSO
Total
Adoption leave
9,224
2,669
1,047
3,716
Carer's leave
11,019
11,624
1,035
23,678
Compassionate leave
23,284
24,112
2,350
49,747
Parental leave
89
32
121
Adoption appointments (paid)
35
30
65
Authorised leave with pay
5
24
165
193
Blood/bone marrow/stem cell donation
133
19
152
Community service
942
353
1,296
Disability related leave
2,497
1,218
20
3,734
Maternity support leave
116
116
Reserve force duties
6,054
254
179
6,488
Special constabulary leave
675
675
Special leave
22
50
72
Sporting events
321
5
326
Stat time off for public duties
238
138
375
Study leave
5,048
418
5,466
Territorial Army duties
17
25
42
Time off for dependants
4,540
276
10
4,826
Trade Union facility time
61
30
91
Paternity leave (adoption) - ordinary
155
155
Paternity leave (birth) - ordinary
41,569
7,776
1,061
50,406
Shared parental birth leave
15,750
1,152
116
17,018
Authorised leave without pay
26,942
7,172
1,943
36,057
TfL
The TfL information below excludes maternity leave.
Types of Leave available to staff
Hours taken 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019
Career break < 6mnth - unpaid
57,115
Special/domestic - unpaid
52,141
Paternity leave
44,484
Special/domestic
38,530
Funeral leave
28,047
TFL lieu days at Victoria Coach Station
25,934
Illness/death of near relative
16,999
Parental leave - unpaid
9,992
Emergency leave
9,468
Pre-retirement leave
8,073
Exam / study leave
7,972
Removal leave
7,371
Shared parental leave
6,483
Shared parental (unpaid)
6,003
Time off dependants - unpaid
3,130
Public duties
2,472
HM Forces activity - unpaid
1,786
Compensatory leave
1,518
Trade Union Rep - unpaid
1,435
Victoria Coach Station lieu days (Public Hols)
1,423
Ante-natal care
1,404
HM Forces annual training
1,254
Public duties - unpaid
664
Surface Transport no longer required
374
College
353
Young person study leave
287
Industrial action official - unpaid
162
Shared parental leave in touch day
144
Religious time off - unpaid
135
Ante natal appointment - unpaid
50
Assistance guide dog training
35
Surface Transport long service leave
29
H&S release - unpaid
25
GLA
Types of Leave available to staff
Hours taken 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019
Dependents (including Bereavement)
2,976
Public duties
647
Volunteering
1,372
Sabbatical
6,710
Maternity
60,231
Ordinary paternity
222
Parental leave
596
LFB
Types of Leave available to staff
Hours taken 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019
Special leave
51,406
Long service leave
154,816
Excused attendance
17,626
Extra annual leave
276,171
Maternity leave
33,987
Adoption support leave
96
Pre-adoption leave
132
Shared Parental Leave
2,406
Maternity support leave
22,479
Parental leave
11,199
Antenatal leave (unpaid)
49
Doctor visit
10,443
Disability treatment leave
589
Compensatory leave
86,205
Leave in lieu of overtime
24,296
Option absence
57,351

The Use of RUIs (Released Under Investigation) by the Met (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: Please provide figures on how many RUI cases there were in the Met in the last two years, with a breakdown by area of crime?

The Mayor: The data was extracted from RUI data that is compiled from the National Strategy for Police Information Systems (NSPIS) from April 2017.
Please note that the number of cases does not equate to the number of individuals as an individual may have been arrested twice within the two-year period. In addition, an individual may have been arrested for more than one of the offences listed.
The offences do not indicate the outcome either. For example, some offences may have resulted in “no further action” or have been successfully charged during this period.
The RUI changes were a mistake and have had a terrible impact. I have spoken to the current and previous Home Secretary about this and my Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and I will continue to lobby the government to change this. We will also continue to scrutinise the Met’s use of RUI.

Windows 7 2

Susan Hall: How many machines use Windows 7 in the GLA?

The Mayor: The GLA currently has 396 devices that are running Window 7. As part of the Transformation Programme – desktop devices running Windows 7 are being replaced with Surface Pro devices (running Windows 10). The remaining desktop devices that continue to run Windows 7 will be upgraded in the coming months. The plan is to have no Windows 7 devices at the GLA by the end of the Summer.

London Fire Brigade training contract

Andrew Dismore: Has the Met built in safeguards to its new contract with Babcock International given the failings identified by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in Babcock’s delivery of its training contract for the London Fire Brigade?

The Mayor: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) undertook significant due diligence prior to awarding its contract to Babcock International. This included learning from engagement with the London Fire Brigade and an independent commercial and organisational readiness review.
Babcock will work in partnership with the MPS and four London universities to develop new officer entry routes for apprenticeships and degree holders, the curriculum of which was set by the College of Policing. The MPS will continue to deliver specialist operational training.
The MPS assures me that it has established a strong ‘intelligent client’ capability to drive value for money and continuous improvement; and that a robust performance framework is in place.
The Babcock contract will be monitored by a dedicated project board under the wider MPS Transformation portfolio. The contract will also form part of the commercial dashboard scrutinised at MOPACs Investment Advisory Monitoring (IAM) meeting.

Publication of MPS response to NetPol report

Siân Berry: MOPAC has indicated in a response to the Network for Police Monitoring (NetPol) that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) will be publishing a full response to NetPol’s report, Restricting the Rebellion, published in November 2019. When will this MPS response be published?

The Mayor: I have been informed by the MPS that it will not be providing a full response to NetPol’s report. The MPS is aware of the concerns raised over how disabled protestors were treated during the October Extinction Rebellion protests and have provided assurance that they have worked with its Disability Independent Advisory Group (DIAG) to fully understand these issues. The MPS will continue to work closely with the DIAG to ensure better mutual understanding of the issues that relate to disabled protest groups or individuals. Furthermore, disabled protestors have been encouraged to work with the Police Liaison Team (PLT) on the ground to talk about issues or concerns.

Released under investigation domestic violence

Unmesh Desai: How many people did the Met release ‘under investigation’ who had been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence offences between 3rd April 2018 and 2nd April 2019? If possible, please can you state the average length of time these people were under investigation prior to being charged or charges being dropped.

The Mayor: 3,559 of the people from Q2 had the Domestic Violence Indicator checked on their Custody Record. It should be noted that the offence(s) for which the person was RUId may or may not have related to DV.

Released under investigation

Unmesh Desai: How many people did the Met release ‘under investigation’ by the police between 3rd April 2018 and 2nd April 2019? If possible, please can you state the average length of time these people were under investigation prior to being charged or charges being dropped.

The Mayor: 42,829 people were first released under investigation between 03/04/2018 & 02/04/2019. This is not an individual count as people could have been arrested on numerous occasions during this period. The arrest date could be prior to the dates mentioned. Some of these may have been on bail before the offence(s) were RUId.

Released under investigation ‘no further action’

Unmesh Desai: How many people have the Met released ‘under investigation’ who have then gone on to see their case marked as ‘No Further Action’ between 3rd April 2017 to the 30th November 2019?

The Mayor: 121,569 people were first released under investigation between 03/04/2017 & 30/11/2019. 42,031 people received “No Further Action” as their Most Serious Disposal.

Released under investigation rape & sexual assault

Unmesh Desai: How many people did the Met release ‘under investigation’ by the police who had been arrested on suspicion of rape or sexual assault between 3rd April 2018 and 2nd April 2019? If possible, please can you state the average length of time these people were under investigation prior to being charged or charges being dropped.

The Mayor: 2,118 of the people from Q2 were arrested for at least one offence relating to “rape” or “sexual assault”. This includes male and female victims. 288 custody records have a DV Indicator.

Pre-charge police bail

Unmesh Desai: How many people did the Met release on pre-charge police bail between 3rd April 2018 and 2nd April 2019? If possible, please can you state the average length of time these people were on bail for.

The Mayor: 14,196 custody records have at least one offence where the Detainee had been Released on Police Bail or Released on Bail (Street Bail). However, the MPS state that the average durations for RUI are impossible to determine accurately.

Cyber Crime Unit Work on One Coin Scam

Caroline Pidgeon: Following on from your answer to 2019/20186, please provide more detail on the specific work the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit is undertaking to tackle the One Coin scam and protect those in London who have invested in the pyramid scheme?

The Mayor: The MPS Cyber Crime Unit have no involvement in any One Coin investigative matters (nor has that ever been the case). CoLP (Fraud, not Cyber) have clarified that they previously had an investigation into One Coin matters, which has now concluded.

Police bail ‘no further action’

Unmesh Desai: How many people did the Met release on pre-charge police bail who have then gone on to see their case marked as ‘No Further Action’ between 3rd April 2018 and 2nd April 2019?

The Mayor: 2,925 (20.6 per cent) custody records of those from Q1 have the Most Serious Disposal of the Custody Record shown As No Further Action. 9,278 (65.4 per cent) of custody records show the Most Serious Disposal as a charge, postal requisition or caution.

Shoplifting

Tony Devenish: Why are the police seemingly refusing to investigate so called "shoplifting" theft even when clear CCTV footage is available?

The Mayor: All crimes that are reported will be investigated if there are viable lines of enquiry. However, the Met is under various pressures including financial challenges and increasing demand. As a result, they have been forced to prioritise resources - low level, higher volume offences such as shoplifting, will have the policy applied to them to decide what level of investigation is appropriate.
The MPS and the National Business Crime Centre have worked to ensure there are a number of resources available to businesses to protect themselves from crime, such as working with the Met’s Designing Out Crime officers and online resources that will advise the most efficient use of CCTV to aid crime prevention and investigation.

Indecent images of children arrests

Unmesh Desai: How many arrests were made by the MPS in relation to crimes concerning indecent images of children in 2019 and each of the four years before this?

The Mayor: Please see the attached table for the number of arrests made by the MPS by year between 2015 and 2019 for offences concerning indecent images of children. The total number of offences is also listed. This is higher than the number of arrests because a detainee can be arrested for more than one offence.